NHL

Predators sign Colton Sissons to 7-year, $20M contractNASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) The Nashville Predators have avoided arbitration with Colton Sissons by signing the forward to a seven-year, $20 million contract.Predators general manager David Poile announced the signing Tuesday and called Sissons ''an up-and-coming leader in our organization.''The 25-year-old Sissons...

Penguins re-sign Sheahan to $2.1 million, 1-year dealPITTSBURGH (AP) The Pittsburgh Penguins have re-signed forward Riley Sheahan to a $2.1 million, one-year contract.General manager Jim Rutherford announced the signing Wednesday, hours after clearing salary-cap space by trading winger Conor Sheary and defenseman Matt Hunwick to Buffalo for a...

Associated PressBlue Jackets stun Lightning 5-1 to take 2-0 series leadBy MARK DIDTLERTAMPA, Fla. (AP) The Columbus Blue Jackets are making a serious bid to knock the team with the best regular-season record out of the playoffs.Matt Duchene had a goal and three assists, Sergei Bobrovsky made 23...

AP Hockey WriterWeary Islanders set to face rested Lightning in East finalsBy JOHN WAWROWIn an NHL playoff like no other, New York Islanders coach Barry Trotz has grown accustomed to the various unexpected challenges.There's been times he's waited until 10 p.m. to learn when the next day's practice is...

Associated PressKuznetsov and Holtby prove just as valuable as OvechkinBy W.G. RAMIREZLAS VEGAS (AP) Alex Ovechkin finally got to hoist the Stanley Cup and then he lifted the Conn Smythe Trophy as the MVP of the Stanley Cup Final.Fellow Russian linemate Evgeny Kuznetsov and goaltender Braden Holtby certainly...

AP Hockey WriterSports hernias putting strain on hockey players of all agesBy STEPHEN WHYNOMonths removed from sports hernia and hip surgeries, Claude Giroux still didn't feel like himself.The Philadelphia Flyers' captain finally got back to normal by the end of the season, roughly nine months after going under the...

Blues' Alex Steen out 4 weeks with high ankle sprainST. LOUIS (AP) St. Louis Blues winger Alex Steen will miss at least four weeks because of a high ankle sprain.Steen injured his left ankle in a collision with Edmonton's Alex Chaisson late in the second period of the...

Canada approves NHL camps, but provinces must rule on gamesOttawa, Ontario (AP) The Canadian government, citing ''national interest grounds,'' gave its approval Thursday for the start of NHL training camps. It issued an exemption to the mandatory 14-day quarantine period for NHL players and team staff to return...

Associated PressTampa Bay, Vegas look to bounce back off lossesBy W.G. RAMIREZLAS VEGAS (AP) The Tampa Bay Lightning and Vegas Golden Knights were favored to win their second-round matchups.After losses Saturday, the Lightning and Golden Knights will be happy just to reclaim home-ice advantage.Hours after Boston beat Tampa...

Devils sign 1st-round pick Ty Smith to 3-year contractNEWARK, N.J. (AP) The New Jersey Devils have signed first-round draft pick Ty Smith to a three-year, entry-level contract.General manager Ray Shero announced the signing Monday of the defenseman who was the 17th overall pick in the recent draft.The 18-year-old...

AP Hockey WriterThe Great One's heading Down Under to promote hockeyBy JOHN WAWROWHaving played an influential role in popularizing hockey across America's southwest, Wayne Gretzky is turning his attention to a new frontier.The Great One's heading Down Under.''You know what, I've said it a thousand times in my lifetime...

AP Hockey WriterNHL clears ex-Panthers GM of wrongdoing after investigationBy STEPHEN WHYNOThe NHL on Thursday cleared Dale Tallon of any wrongdoing after an independent investigation found it could not substantiate claims he made inappropriate racial, religious and ethnic comments as general manager of the Florida Panthers.The league received an...